David Condon, Mayor, No Phone Number Available
Monday, December 22, 2014 at 1:59 p.m.
The City's efforts to reinvigorate the Sprague corridor are getting a big boost. In the past few days, the City has been awarded a Smart Growth America technical workshop grant. In addition, Spokane has made the shortlist for a state pedestrian and bicycle safety grant.
Smart Growth America chose Spokane as one of just 14 communities nationally to receive the workshop grant. The workshop, which will happen next spring, will focus on transit-oriented development, integrated street projects, smart growth policies, economic and fiscal development, parking management and regional planning. This will help us build policies around our plans that can be replicated elsewhere in the city.
The pedestrian and bicycle safety grant comes from WSDOT. The $1.5 million in funding would help pay for pedestrian refuge islands and street lights for pedestrian safety along Sprague avenue. We'll find out next year if we get the grant.
Both of these developments are significant next steps in what is great progress for East Sprague businesses, residents and commuters. Improvements made so far to East Sprague are just the beginning of a larger vision the City Council and I share for moving this underutilized business district and surrounding neighborhood forward. We're committed to helping fulfill the vast potential of the East Sprague Business District, with its mix of retail, drive-by traffic and proximity to other resources. In total, $32 million in projects are planned over the next few years.
